Steam generator



May 19, 1931. F. ca. FARR ET AL STEAM GENERATOR Filed April I6. 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1931. F. e. FARR ETAL 1,806,390

5 TEAM GENERATOR Filed April 16, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK G. FARR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND GEORGE E. DIDINGER, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO FREDERICK G. FARR, DONALD SLING- LUFF, AND GEORGE E. DIDINGER, TRUSTEES STEAM GENERATOR Application filed April 16, 1927. Serial N0. 184,206.

This invention relates to furnaces and improved oil burning systems of the type employing a mixture of oil, steam and air to form a combustible mixture, and more particularly to steam generators.

An object is to produce a steam generator for use in connection with an oil burning system and apparatus including an improved steam supply means comprising a novel steam boiler and generator by which steam is fed to a burner spray nozzle to atomize the Oll into the flame, the steam generator being so constructed that it quickly generates steam for the initial starting of the oil burner in operation; and a feature resides in the provision of means whereby water is constantly supplied to the steam generator at a rate about equal to the water consumed in generating steam. To this end it is an object to provide correct relative locations of the steam generator and water supply therefor so that water normally remains at all times in the steam generator for starting the oil burner in operation.

Another object of the invention is to produce a simple pumping device or water elevating means forming a unitary part of the generator and designed to work from the heat of the fire to force or elevate water to a steam generator dome from a fixed level con-- stant water supply.

A still further object is to improve o1l burning systems in respect to steam generating means for several: purposes such as pre-heating the oil, supplying steam to equalize the back pressure created on the water supply so as to cause water to flow to the steam generator by gramty, and to atomize the liquid fuel from a spray nozzle into the fire pot, and to operate such other parts as may be required.

Our improvements in oil burners relate to a novel steam generator for supplying steam to effect atomization of the liquid fuel, such as oil, into a fire pot, furnace, or other means and also relates to the combination of the steam generator with oil pre-heating means and to means for equalizing the pressure on the constant water supply so as to feed water into the generator.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the principle of the invention and show an example thereof.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a furnace with the improved steam generator and oil burner installed in connection therewith.

Figure 2 shows a diagram in side elevation of the apparatus removed from the furnace.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary enlarged view of the lower end of a pumping device forming a part of the steam generator.

Referring further to the drawings, there is shown a furnace 5 of any suitable form in which our oil burner improvements may be installed. Furnaces are usually provided with a damper and fuel control lever 6 actuated by a diaphragm device 7 of a well known form in order to automatically actuate a damper rod 8 connected with an air draft valve or damper 9 provided with apertures 10 to regulate the flow of'air into the furnace or fire pot to support combustion. The lever 6 also actuates an oil valve control rod 11 connected with a regulating valve 12 included in an oil supply pipe line 13 which connects with an oil storage tank not shown, the oil supply pipe 13 including a cut-off valve 18. A burner spray nozzle 14 of any suitable form is connected to the oil supply pipe 13, the nozzle including a spray jet 15 designed to atomize a mixture of oil and steam into a suitable fire pot 16 or other means through an opening 17 and the flame is directed upwardly into the furnace 5 and plays on the steam generator to be described and which produces steam to cooperate with or operate all parts of the oil burner system as will be described.

The foregoing is a brief explanation of a furnace converted to the use of an oil burner and certain of the known parts have been mentioned and a description of our improvements will now follow. This invention among other things provides an improved steam generator by which steam is fed to the spra nozzle 14 to atomize into the fire pot 16, t e oil received from pipe 13. It is appreciated however that the improved oil burner and steam generator are useful without the furnace.

ion

A water supply pipe 22 connects with a closed water chamber comprising a float box 23 wherein is mounted any suitable automatic valve means for maintaining therein a substantially fixed water level and constant Water supply. To maintain a uniform level of water within the float box 23 there is pro vided a float 24 pivoted at 25 toreciprocate the valve plunger 26 to admit water from pipe 22 into the float box through a valve port 27. Thus as water flows from the float box 23 out through a pipe 28 to a steam generator, the float 24 lowers and valve 26 auto-' matically admits Water from the pipe 22 into the float box 23 to maintain a substantially fixed level of the constant water supply to feed water into pipe 28 and hence to a steam generator connected thereto.

The water pipe 28 connects through a lower Water boiler receptacle or pump reser voir 31 to a steam generator dome 30, the parts 30 and 31 constituting Water receptacle elements of our new steam generator. The steam generator 3031 is disposed in the heat or the flame, as above the fire pot 16, and generates steam for one or more purposes as for example for three purposes as adapted to this particular embodiment of our invention. y

In the first place a steam pipe 32 connects the steam generator dome or upper receptacle 30 with thespray nozzle '14 and steam is thus conveyed to the nozzle to atomize a mixture of oil and steam into the fire pot 16 and create a draft of air, inwardly thru the damper 910. In the second place a steam pipe 33 connects the steam dome 30 with the float box water chamber 23 so as to equalize or balance the pressure in the float box against the back pressure caused by steam in the generator through pipe 28, thereby permitting water to flow by gravity from the float box 23 to the steam generator 30-31. In the third place, and even for other purposes, a steam heating pipe 34 connects the steam generator 30'31 with a heating coil 35 contained within any suitable enclosing means and more particularly an insulating body 36, a return pipe 37' connecting the heating coil 35 with the float box 23 so that the condensation of steam contained within the'steam heating coil may flow by gravity to the float box 23. The

steam heated space or body 36 contains the oil supply pipe 13 or a portion thereof by which the fuel oil is pre-heated to make it flow more readily and condition it for burning purposes. a q

The float box is connected with the steam generator to maintain a constant water supply in the generator and it is preferred that the steam generator dome 30 be located above the fixed water level and constant water supply represented by the fioat box 23 in'order that it my not fill up or overflow with water either during operation or when the system is not in use. The steam pump reservoir or receptacle 31 forming a part of the steam generator is preferably located below or level with the Water level of the float box 23 so that water may stand in this reservoir 31 on a level with the water in the float box and in order that water may continuously flow by gravity to the steam generator.

In further describing the steam. generator and particularly the water pumping or elevating element thereof, the pump or water boiling reservoir 31 is provided, if desired, with a neck 40 mounted in the lower wall of the upper receptacle or generator dome 30 with the upper end of the neck 40 projecting a short distance into the steam chamber 30 as pointed out at 41. By extending the pump neck 40 into and through the dome 30 for a short distance, as indicated at 41, a thin sheet of water as shown is maintained therein by which to facilitate starting the apparatus in quick operation. Any excess water pumped into the dome 30 from pump reservoir 31 overflows into the neck 40 and returns to the reservoir 31. In this way, a predetermined amount of water is maintained within the upper generating receptacle or dome 30 so that steam production is uniform and rapid. Tofacilitate retaining a film of water in the dome 30, the neck 40 may proj ect through the bottom wall of the dome and said bottom wall may be made flat and level to hold the water.

Ahot water and steam tube or pump tube 42 has its lower end fixed in the bottom wall .43 of'the water boiling purnp reservoir'31 or boiling chamber 44, or more'particularly a restricted pump chamber 44, beneath the reservoir bottom 43. The lower extremity of the pump tube 42 projects downwardly into the restricted chamber 44, and the upper end 47 is preferably bent to overhang or ex- Y tend beyond the neck edge 41 so as to discharge water into the upper receptacle 30 of the steam generator 3031. The reservoir 'bottom 43 is perforated at 39 so as to admit Water to the restricted chamber 44 from the reservoir 31 since the water is being continuously pumped by bubbling action up through the tube 42 which pours the water in small regulated quantities onto the hot bottom wall of the steam generating dome 30 whereupon the water is converted into steam to expand and feed through any or all of the three pipes 32, 33 and 34 heretofore men-' tioned, or other required.

A vibrating or pulsating pump disc, valve plate, or piston member 46 may be confined within the restricted pump or water boiling chamber 44 and is guided in up and down short strokes on the lower extremity of the tube 42. The pump piston disc 46 normally pipes and for other uses if rests on a collar, shoulder, or nut 38, or other suitable means, secured to lower end of tube 42 so as to remain in operative position between the walls 43 and 45 and vibrate or pulsate up and down therebetween to cause the water to be forced or lifted up through the tube 42 into the generator dome 30 by the expansion of steam forming in lower chamber 44.

Water normally stands in the tube 42 and reservoir 31 at the same level as water in the float box 23. Upon the application of heat to the lower end 45 of the pump reservoir the small quantity of water in the restricted pump chamber 40 is quickly heated, and the boiling or bubbling of this waterv forces the piston or valve disc 46 upwardly against the perforated wall 43 thereby closing the perforations 39 thus effectually closing the restricted water boiling chamber 44 from dis charge of water back out through the perforations 39. In this way, the small pump chamber 44 has no outlet except through the tube 42 and therefore the steam and water formed in the chamber 44 expands upwardly through tube 42 thereby forcing water out through the upper tube end 47 pouring it upon the lower surface of the steam dome 30 beyond the projecting neck edge 41.

Thevalve disc 46 opens and closes the inlets 39in rapid succession to admit water into the chamber 44 from the reservoir 31 as fast as water is forced from the chamber 44 out thru the tube 42 to the upper receptacle or steam dome 30. It follows therefore that a small quantity of water is quickly delivered to the steam dome 30 thereby maintaining a thin sheet of water in the steam dome which is rapidly boiled by reason of spreading over a large heated area, the vibration of the disc 46 maintaining the thin sheet of water in the receptacle 30. The piston or valve disc 46 is made a relatively close fit with the chamber 44, although there exists sufficient clearance to permit free play of this movable member up and down and more particularly to permit water to flow past the rim of the disc into the restricted chamber 44, through the perforation 39.

The restricted chamber 44 within itself quickly generates enough steam to expand through the steam pipe 32 and produce a pressure in the burner spray nozzle 14 in order to start the oil spray through the opening 17 into the fire pot 16 and initiate com bustion therein. A gas burner or other temporary expedient may be resorted to for the purpose of initially heating the pump chamber 44 and reservoir 31 to attain sufficient steam pressure to start the burner in operation; 'When steam pressure is evidenced, as by a slight hissing sound at the nozzle 14, the oil valve 18 is opened to feed oil to the nozzle 14 which becomes intermixed with the steam, and ignition takes place by reason of a steam, oil and air mixture flowing into the fire pot proximate the temporary and initial gas flame employed to first heat the restricted chamber 44, and thus contact of the mixture with the initial flame causes combustion.

The hollow neck or support 40 carries the steam dome 30 above the pump reservoir 31, the dome being above the fixed water level supply means 23 to prevent flooding the dome, while the pump reservoir is on a level with the float box 23 so as to normally remain filled with water as shown. This position of parts of course maintains water in the tube 42 so that with the first movement of the valve disc 46, when heat is applied to the pump reservoir 31 or chamber 44, steam and hot water is rapidly discharged up through the tube by reason of the perforations 39 being closed in rapid succession by the disc, the

only outlet for the water being thru the tube 42.

In the general operation of the oil burner system, steam flows from the generator 3031 through the pipe 32 to the spray nozzle 14 to spray fuel oil into the fire pot as will be understood; steam also flows through pipe 33 to equalize the pressure within the float box 23 against the back pressure through the pipe 28 thereby causing water to flow freely by gravity thru pipe 28 to maintain water supply in the reservoir or water elevating means 31; and steam also expands thru the pipe 34 to the heating coils 35 to pre-heat the oil in fuel feed pipe 13. The vibrating disc 46, as heretofore described, maintains a thin sheet of water within the generator dome 30 by virtue of the neck projection 41 and by operation of the pump or water elevating means. Steam is therefore rapidly generated in sufficient quantities in the dome to supply the steam pipes 32, 33 and 314 for the purpose described.

The system is positive and simple in operation, requires no attendant, few adjustments and the water pump or elevating means forming part thereof cooperates in a novel way to produce steam for the oil burner nozzle. It is therefore seen that this invention provides a gravity feed water system leading to the steam generator, that a pump element is provided inside the pump reservoir to operate in boiling water by heat, that there are no mechanically driven parts, and that a two-element boiler is provided wherein one receptacle 31 contains water in sufiicient quantity to positively supply water in small regulated portions to the other receptacle 30 which instantly vaporizes the water into steam for the purposes required.

An advantage in this oil burner system is that by agitation of the Water in the pump reservoir caused by the valve pump disc 46 and boiling water, the scale and sediment, which would otherwise form, isthrown or driven off and no scale deposit occurs.

The float box continually supplies water to the steam generator in an amount equal to that being transformed into steam by the generatorboiler 30-31 and water from city supply pipe 22 flows in equal quantity into the float box 23.

What we claim is:

1. A steam generator comprising, receptacles mounted one above the other, means connecting together the receptacles by which a predetermined amount of water is maintained in the upper receptacle and by which excess water in the upper receptacle returns to the lower receptacle, a restricted water boiling chamber within the lower receptacle, a tube leading from the chamber to the upper receptacle, said lower receptacle being provided with water inlets leading to the chamber, and a movable disc mounted within the chamber to close the inlets in rapid succession to force the water through the tube into the upper receptacle, and said disc being provided with an aperture through which the tube projects to guide the disc in pulsating movement,

2. A steam generator comprising, receptacles mounted one over the other, means connecting together the receptacles by which a predetermined amount of water is maintained in the upper receptacle and by which excess water returns from "the upper to the lower receptacle, a water boiling chamber within the lower receptacle, a tube leading from the chamber to the upper receptacle, a movable disc mounted within the chamber and adapt-- ed to pulsate in boiling water to force the water through the tube into the upper receptacle, said disc being provided with an aperture through which the tube end projects to guide the disc, spaced walls included in the chamber between which the disc pulsates, and one of said walls being perforated to admit water to the end of the tube proximate the 7 disc, said perforation being opened and closed by the pulsating disc.

'3. A steam generator comprising, water receptacles connected together one above the other so that excess water in the upper receptacle overflows to the lower receptacle, the upper receptacle having a flat and level bottom to retain water therein, said connection between the water receptacles comprising a neck fixed in the upperreceptacle with its upper edge projecting above the lower surface to confine a sheet of water in said upper receptacle, a restricted chamber within the lower water receptacle, a tube leading from the chamber to the upper receptacle through the neck and including a bend at the upper end thereof to overreach the projecting upper edge of the neck, and means within said chamber for forcing water through the tube into the upper receptacle.

water in the upper receptacle overflows to the lower receptacle, said connection between the water receptacles comprising a neck projecting into the upper receptacle with vits upper edge extending above the lower surface to confine a thin sheet of water in said upper receptacle, a chamber within the lower water receptacle, a tube leading from the chamber to the upper receptacle through the neck and including a bend at the upper end thereof to overreach the projecting upper edge of the neck, said chamber having a water inlet, and avalve disc slidably confined and carried on the lower end of the tube within the chamber to open and close the water inlet.

a In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FREDERICK G. FARR.

GEORGE-H. DIDINGER.

4. A steam generator comprising, water re- 7 ceptacles connected together one above the other by a connection through which excess 

